VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 43% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 25% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Opposes topic 1 YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1 YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on restricting UN funding for population control policies: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2 Rated 89% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2 Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2 NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+5 points on Social scale)	More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3 Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Rated 67% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4 NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes topic 4 NO on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Favors topic 4 NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4
No opinion on topic 8: Death Penalty (0 points on Social scale)	YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8 NO on limiting death penalty appeals: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+2 points on Social scale)	Rated 88% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Opposes topic 9 YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Favors topic 9 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9 YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9
No opinion on topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (0 points on Economic scale)	Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10 YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Favors topic 10 NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10 YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes topic 10 NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting foreign & UN aid that restricts US gun ownership: Favors topic 10 YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains: Favors topic 10
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-3 points on Economic scale)	Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 62% by APHA, indicating a mixed record on public health issues: Neutral on topic 5 NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5 YES on blocking medical savings acounts: Favors topic 5 NO on Medicare means-testing: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5 NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes topic 5 YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5 YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors topic 5 YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5 YES on expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program: Favors topic 5 YES on regulating tobacco as a drug: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6 Rated 70% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Opposes topic 6 NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes topic 6 NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-5 points on Economic scale)	Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7 Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on education savings accounts: Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on Educational Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18 Rated 47% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 67% by CAF, indicating a mixed record on energy independence: Neutral on topic 18 Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Opposes topic 18 YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors topic 18 NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18 YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18 YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors topic 18 YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on requiring full Senate debate and vote on cap-and-trade: Opposes topic 18 YES on protecting middle-income taxpayers from a national energy tax: Opposes topic 18 YES on $2 billion more for Cash for Clunkers program: Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (+2 points on Social scale)	Federal grants to Indian tribes to fight methamphetamine: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Opposes topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 NO on allowing state welfare waivers: Opposes topic 20 YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Opposes topic 20 YES on welfare block grants: Favors topic 20
Strongly Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-5 points on Economic scale)	Rated 11% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11 NO on Internet sales tax moratorium: Favors topic 11 NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Favors topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11 NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11 NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 50% by USBC, indicating a mixed record on open borders: Neutral on topic 12 YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 NO on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Opposes topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 NO on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on establishing a Guest Worker program: Opposes topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Opposes topic 12 NO on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13 Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Insist on access to post-mad-cow Japanese beef markets: Favors topic 13 NO on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Opposes topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on expanding trade to the third world: Opposes topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 NO on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Opposes topic 13 NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on promoting free trade with Peru: Opposes topic 13
Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-3 points on Social scale)	Rated 90% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15 NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Opposes topic 15 NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Opposes topic 15 YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Favors topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15 YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15
Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-3 points on Economic scale)	Repeal automatic Congressional pay raises: Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (+5 points on Social scale)	NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Opposes topic 14 YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Favors topic 14 YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Favors topic 14
No opinion on topic 17: US out of Iraq (0 points on Social scale)	Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17 Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17 Sanctions on Iran to end nuclear program: Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17 YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17